Specialized Section on Standardization of
Dry and Dried Produce (Fruit) (GE.2)


Fourty-sixth Session, 7-10 June 1999,
PROVISIONAL AGENDA FOR THE FORTY-SIXTH SESSION
to be held in the Palais des Nations, Geneva, SALLE IX
commencing at 10.00 hrs on Monday, 7 June 1999


1. Adoption of the agenda TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/1999/1
English French Russian
TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/1999/1/Add.1
English French Russian
2. Election of officers
3. Matters of interest since the forty-fifth session TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/1999/2
English French Russian
4. Consideration of UN/ECE Recommendations:
(a) Walnut Kernels TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/1999/3 (United States)
English French Russian
TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/1999/9 (France)
English French Russian
(b) Inshell Walnuts TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/1999/4 (United States)
English French Russian
TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/1999/10 (France)
English French Russian
(c) Cashew Kernels
Text of the UN/ECE recommendation TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/1999/5
English French Russian
Proposal from India TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/1999/6 (India)
English French Russian
5. Revision of the UN/ECE Standards for Unshelled Pistachio Nuts and Decorticated, and Decorticated Peeled Pistachio Nuts
6. Proposal to Elaborate a Standard for Pitted Dates
7. Revision of the Standard Layout for Dry and Dried Produce
Main text of the layout TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/1999/7 (Germany)
English French Russian
Annex II TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/1999/8 (Spain)
English French Russian
Annex III TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/1999/11(Spain)
English French Russian
8. Discussion on a Dictionary of Defects
9. Elaboration of a sampling plan AGRI/WP.1/GE.2/R.56/Rev.3
10. Other business
(a) Future work
(b) Date and place of the next session
(c) Preparation of the 55th session of the Working Party on Standardization of Perishable Produce and Quality Development
11. Adoption of the report TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/1999/12
English French Russian



Proposed timetable

7 June 10.00 - 13.00 Items 1- 4 (a)
15.00 - 18.00 Item 4 (a)
8 June 10.00 - 13-00 Item 4 (b)
16.00 - 18.00 Items 4 (c) - 6
9 June 10.00 - 13-00 Items 7 - 10
10 June 10.00 - 13-00 Item 11



ANNOTATIONS

Item 1 Adoption of the agenda

According to the Commission's Rules of Procedure, the first item on the provisional agenda is the adoption of the agenda.

Item 2 Election of officers

According to the Commission's Rules of Procedure and established practice, the Meeting of Experts is expected to elect a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman. At its forty-fifth session the Group elected Mr. W. Staub (Germany) as its Chairman and Mr. M. Sciannella (Italy) as its Vice-Chairman.

Item 3 Matters of interest arising since the forty-fifth session

Document TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/1999/2 sums up the relevant outcome of the second session of the Committee for Trade, Industry and Enterprise Development and the fifty-fourth session of the Working Party on Standardization of Perishable Produce and Quality Development.

Item 4 Consideration of UN/ECE Recommendations

(a) Walnut Kernels

Discussion at the last session: see TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/1998/14 paras. 40-45
Discussion at the Working Party : see TRADE/WP.7/1998/9 paras. 17-18

Document for this session: TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/1999/3 (United States)

Background: The trial period for this recommendation was extended for one year (until November 1999) because no consensus was found on links between colour and grading, definition of styles, tolerances and the definition of terms and defects. A small working group, composed of France, Germany and the United States was created to draw up a harmonized proposal that reflects the interest of all growers. A delegation from France visited California during the 1998 harvest season for information and further discussions on a new colour chart.

(b) Inshell Walnuts

Discussion at the last session: see TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/1998/14 para. 49

Document for this session: TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/1999/3 (United States)

Background: This recommendation is in the trial period until November 1999. The delegation of the United States agreed to prepare a proposal concerning an enhancement of definitions, the variety issue, size, marking of the crop year and the moisture content.

(c) Cashew Kernels

Discussion at the last session: see TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/1998/14 paras. 28-31
Discussion at the Working Party : see TRADE/WP.7/1998/9 paras. 14-15

Documents for this session: TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/1999/5 (Secretariat)
TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/1999/6 (India)

Background: The trial period for this recommendation was extended for one year (until November 1999) because:

- No consensus was found on the indication of the country of origin because for processing the kernels from different countries of origin are mixed. It was felt that this issue required further reflection, taking into account current discussions on product origin in the World Trade Organization and the European Union.
- Other major producing countries, Brazil and Vietnam, should be consulted before adopting the recommendation as a standard.

Item 5 Revision of the UN/ECE Standards for Unshelled Pistachio Nuts and Decorticated, and Decorticated Peeled Pistachio Nuts

Discussion at the last session: see TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/1998/14 paras. 50-51
Discussion at the Working Party : see TRADE/WP.7/1998/9 para. 16

Background: It was agreed to review the UN/ECE Standards for Pistachio Nuts because the present texts no longer reflected current production and trade practices. Turkey offered to serve as rapporteur in collaboration with the United States. Input from other delegations, including other major producing countries such as Iran was invited.

Item 6 Proposal to elaborate a Standard for Pitted Dates

Discussion at the last session: see TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/1998/14 para. 55

Background: The German delegation proposed at the lst session to elaborate a Standard for Pitted Dates. Delegations were requested to provide trade data to the German delegation.

Item 7 Revision of the Standard Layout for Dry and Dried Produce

Discussion at the last session: see TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/1998/14 para. 58
Discussion at the Working Party : see TRADE/WP.7/1998/9 para. 19

Documents for this session: TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/1999/7 (Germany)
TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/1999/8 (Spain)

Background: It was agreed to revise the Standard Layout. The delegation of Germany offered to serve as Rapporteur for the revision of the text and the delegation of Spain for the revision of the Annexes.

Item 8 Discussion on a Dictionary of Defects

Discussion at the last session: see TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/1998/14 paras. 52-53
Discussion at the Working Party : see TRADE/WP.7/1998/9 para. 20

Background: It was decided to continue work on a dictionary of defects which at present exists in 5 languages. It was requested that it should made available in electronic format. It should be examined if it was possible to include short explanations in English and French. Delegations were requested to send their respective language versions to the delegate of Italy.

Item 9 Elaboration of a sampling plan

Discussion at the last session: see TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/1998/14 paras. 52-53

Background: The question was discussed at the fifty-second session (see AGRI/WP.1/GE.2/55 paras. 70-73) on the basis of document AGRI/WP.1/GE.2/R.56/Rev.3. At that session it was agreed to withdraw the ECE plan in light of the broader scope of the Codex sampling plan and the similarity of the plans, as it was not necessary to have additional systems. At the last session, it was agreed to reflect on the elaboration of a sampling plan and take up the issue at this session.

Item 10 Other Business

(a) Future work

Delegations are invited to make proposals for future work of the Specialized Section.

(b) Date and place of the next session

The forty-seventh session has been tentatively scheduled to take place in Geneva from 19 to 22 June 2000.

(c) Preparation of the 55th session of the Working Party on Standardization of Perishable Produce and Quality Development

Delegations are invited to mention any item that should be brought to the attention of the Working Party. At the last session of the Working Party it was decided to review the working procedures of the Working Party and its specialized sections. The procedures are intended to offer a clear outline how delegates work during the sessions and how documents should be prepared (see TRADE/WP.7/1998/9 paras 52 -53). Any suggestions from delegations concerning this issue are welcome.

Item 10 Adoption of the report

The Working Party will adopt the report of its forty-sixth session on the basis of a draft prepared by the secretariat.


NOTE BY THE SECRETARIAT:

Contributions should be sent to the secretariat either on diskette or by mail to:

Food Standards Officer
UN/ECE Trade Division
Palais des Nations
Office 432
1211 Geneva 10
Tel: (41) 22 917 2450
Fax: (41) 22 917 0041


or by e-mail to:

[email protected]

Meeting documentation will be available on our homepage:

http://www.unece.org/trade/agr/welcome.htm